Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Pros & Cons

• Excellent gorilla trekking with almost guaranteed sightings
• Superb bird watching available with knowledgeable guides
• Unspoiled rainforest
• Community projects including a village visit
• Some access roads are bad in the rainy season
• Very expensive gorilla trekking permit and limited availability (but cheaper than in Rwanda)

Wildlife

Aside from the endangered mountain gorillas, nine other primate species are found in the forest. These include chimpanzee, olive baboon, black-and-white colobus and L'Hoest's monkey. Elephant are present but seldom seen. Bushbuck and several types of forest duiker can sometimes be spotted. The park has a very impressive bird and butterfly checklist.

• More about Bwindi's wildlife

Scenery

Bwindi is a pristine rainforest on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. The terrain is a string of ridges and valleys covered in very dense, impenetrable forest. Bwindi has one of the most diverse floras in East Africa and it harbors 10 tree species that don’t occur anywhere else in the country.

Weather & Climate

The rain rarely lets up at Bwindi, with the heaviest falls occurring from March to May and October to November. Pack plenty of wet-weather gear to combat the drizzle. The forest’s mild climate is easier to enjoy in the drier months (June to August and December to February).

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Best Time To Visit

Tracking gorillas is best when Bwindi’s trails are not so sodden and there is more sunshine (June to August and December to February). Slippery trails and occasional mist make wildlife watching more challenging during the wetter months of the year.

• More about the best time to visit

Want To Visit Bwindi NP?

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